The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-02
THE BAYOUX OF LOUIsIANA.
Peculiar CopdtItons that Enter Into
the Form atiOa Of the Soil.

the FOrmatiO0 Of the Soil.
The track ran through intermin-
able swamps OF giant cypruSes, mag
nolias and fig trees. Their myriads
of gray trunks stood knee high in
water, opening in silent vistas on
either side as the train passed
through. Overhead huge vicious
coils Of vines knotted these bare col
umus together. 1t was March, but
there was no coy, tender approach OF
spring here. Nature was savage
fierce, prolific. The very leaves
which in the North would have put
forth timid green, burst open here
like clots of bloed or an angry glare
of white; even the thickets Of sap.
lings we're hoary with age. Strange
red and orange birds flashed through
the somber recesses; nov and then a
huge alligator rose out of the plane OF
Shiny water, stared at the train with
dead eyes and plunged into it again.
They were on the border OF that
coast country of Louisiana which
fronts the Mexican gulf between
Barataria and Calcasieu bays; a re-
markable region, unlike any other
in North America in its peculiar
features and the somber splendor Of
its scenery. The cause Of its pecul-
iarity is easily explained.
The Mississippi in Louisiana
makes a huge bend westward in the
shape OF bow or crescent, the up
per point being at Vicksburg, the
lower at New Orleans, the middle of
the arc running nearly parallel with
the distant coast. To the north
west of this arc stretch
of pine barreus, intersected by ranges
Of low rolling hills, and broken by
numberless lakes and ponds, extends
into Texas. Through these the
heavy, blood colored food OF the Red
river urges its way, carrying with il
all lesser water courses, and empty.
ing itself into the Mississippi near
the highest point Of this bow or de-
tour. Its red stain tinges the water
aud the banks Of all the outlets Of
the great river thereafter to the Gulf
With this last great influx hold.
ing all the streams in the Texar
llanos and the mountains OF Mexico)
the Mississippi now receives the
whole drainage of the continent be
tween the Rocky and Appalachian
ranges. Every spring and rainfall il
that vast territory helps to swell il
tremendous tide below Bayou Sara
Hence the food Of water there
pushes its way directly TO th,
sea with resistless power, no
only on its acknowledged high
way, the Mississippi, but through
the whole southern half o
Louisiana. 1t literally enters il
and occupies the land, forcing itsel
seward, not only by more than 80
bayoux, many Of which are might
rivers, but by sluggish, scarce NOV
ing streams, by perpetual soaking
creeping, oozing through all tn
earth, showing itself on the surfac
in countless lakes, ponds and enor
nous dismal swamps, and above
in incessant heavy rolling fOgs an'
mists. You cannot dig three foe
down in all this district withou
reaching water.
We must remember, too, that thi
spongy soil has been soaking in 10
ages the fat washings OF all the rio
, alluvial river bottoms on half OF th
continent. No such conditions entC
: into the formation OF any other so
, in the world. II Louisiana can eve
, be drained and rescued from the SC
and river, her fecundity under th
, hot tropical suns would be unpara
leled.
As il is, the parishes in this regic
include the richest cotton, suga
and orange bearing ground IN Oh
States. The forests grow 20 the sil
Of the woods before the food eve
the CHASTITY impenetrable swami
| .lnla nth rank lilo